After the obligatory fifth starter thrashing, the Padres came back to win the third game at Dodger Stadium. Brian Lawrence allowed the first five batters to reach base but settled down and held the Dodgers to three runs in six innings, becoming the first Padre 15-game winner since 1998.

The bad news is that it looks like Khalil Greene is out for the regular season with a broken finger. Brilliant rookie campaign. We’ll leave it to the powers-that-be to figure out who the ROY should be. Meantime, the Pads are still very much in the hunt. Rich Aurilia and a resurgent Ramon Vazquez will split shortstop duties in Greene’s absence. Yeah, it’s a dropoff, but these guys are pros, they’ll find a way to get it done.

Also picking up the slack have been Brian Giles and the long dormant Jay Payton, who now has gone yard in two straight games. I don’t know where the shame is in playing center field for the Padres, but it’d be nice to see someone step up down the stretch. I don’t really care who it is. Well, I was hoping it would be Xavier Nady but that didn’t happen. Payton? Sure, why not. That’s why the Pads signed him in the first place.

I guess the other big news is that Kerry Robinson got a base hit. Actually, it was fun watching him score from first on Ramon Hernandez’ eighth-inning double. He was running with the pitch and almost caught Brian Giles, who had a 90-foot head start. Man, if Robinson had consistently usable baseball skills, he’d be something.

Adam Eaton and Jeff Weaver in the series finale. Usual time, usual channel.

           IP  K/9 K/BB  AVG  OBP  SLG  ERA
Eaton   174.0 6.83 2.75 .270 .320 .442 4.91
Weaver  195.2 6.44 2.46 .252 .313 .383 3.77

Doesn’t look so hot on paper. Here’s hoping it’s good Eaton tonight…